Historic Hood River
Lava Beds
7-13-2022
Notes
Here’s Harry DeWitt with C.D. Nicklesen, G.D. Woodworth, and C.C. Walton at the lava beds southwest of Parkdale. It seems odd to me such a prominent geological feature doesn’t get more attention, either today or in the historic record. We know there used to be a Chautauqua gathering at a campground near the lava beds during the summertime, but I suppose most people prefer enjoying one of our rivers or lakes when they need to cool down.
Basaltgrouse
There are multiple large lave beds in our area. One on the south side of Adams and a large one north west of Willard. I once "hiked" into the crater in the big lava beds north west of Willard and the travel was very slow and sketchy with all of the cracks, crevices and large boulder like features to navigate. That lava beds is tree covered and is somewhat difficult to get your bearings. That adventure was before GPS and I was warned that a compass can be unreliable because of the iron content in the lava. Lava beds are difficult and potentially dangerous to travel in. There are tales of hunters getting disoriented and lost in that lava bed.
Longshot
It would be nice to know exactly where this tree was so we could visit and compare it’s today self with its older self.